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Event Title: Ethiopia JICA Chair Special Lecture by Executive Director and Vice President Someya of the University of Tokyo
Date: May 10, 2024
Co-organized by JICA and Addis Ababa University
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Main Participants
● Speakers:
Takao Someya, Executive Officer and Vice President of the University of Tokyo, Director of the Industry-Academia Collaboration Promotion Division, Professor, Graduate School of Engineering
Ceramihun A. Haile, Lead CEO for Innovation and Development, Ministry of Innovation and Technology, Ethiopia
Participants: Addis Ababa University President Samuel Kefle, Vice President, faculty, students, Ethiopian Ministry of Innovation and Technology officials, Ministry of Education officials, other university officials, local media, etc. About 100 people
Background and Objectives
Since 2021, JICA has been working to strengthen the startup ecosystem in Ethiopia by dispatching a startup ecosystem advisor to the Ethiopian Ministry of Innovation and Technology and providing training in Japan. Through these activities, the Ethiopian government has designated Addis Ababa City as a government ordinance city for the establishment of a startup ecosystem, based on the “Strategy for the Formation of a World-Class Startup Ecosystem” developed by the Cabinet Office of Japan, and is implementing a program to foster university-launched startups based on a university incubation center. Addis Ababa University has been designated as a government-decree city for the creation of a startup ecosystem, with the university incubation center as its base. Addis Ababa University is expected to strengthen its function as a base for this program.
In addition, JICA has held a total of three JICA Chair Lectures at Addis Ababa University to cultivate young intellectual leaders, and in February 2024, invited participants from three universities including Addis Ababa University to Japan (see related link). The invited participants have received presentations from Mr. Someya, Executive Officer and Vice President of the University of Tokyo, and others, and have strengthened their relationship with Japanese universities and increased their interest in fostering university-launched startups.
In light of the above background, we are pleased to announce that Mr. Someya, Executive Officer and Vice President of the University of Tokyo, will deliver a JICA Chair special lecture at Addis Ababa University on the theme of “Japan’s Experience in Nurturing Startups through Universities and the Current State of Support for Social Entrepreneurship Development”.
Contents
Executive Vice President Someya gave a lecture titled “The University of Tokyo’s Startup Ecosystem and Research on Electronic Skin,” outlining his research on electronic skin and the University of Tokyo’s efforts to create startups.
In addition, Mr. Ceramihun of the Ethiopian Ministry of Innovation and Technology gave a presentation on “The Activation Life Cycle of Ethiopia’s Startup Ecosystem.
Participants asked Executive Vice President Someya a wide range of questions, including what is needed to implement research results in society, the status of university-launched startups at the University of Tokyo, and protection of intellectual property rights. They also asked Mr. Ceramihun about administrative support for university startups and venture capital, and a lively exchange of opinions ensued.
Addis Ababa University is currently working diligently to nurture university startups, even as part of the university’s incorporation, and the Ethiopian Ministry of Innovation and Technology was just after launching a policy to support startups in April, making this a timely special lecture.
JICA will continue its cooperation to strengthen the relationship among universities and to build and enhance the start-up ecosystem in Ethiopia.
Special lecture by Executive Officer Someya, Vice President
JICA and Addis Ababa University Announce Memorandum of Understanding for JICA Chair Implementation
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